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Last year I was fortunate enough to be among the first to review the Samsung T3 Portable SSD. The drive was small, durable, fast, available in capacities up to 2TB, and relatively good looking making it not only my favorite portable SSD, but also my most highly recommended as well.
Of course, with Samsung’s annual release cycles, Samsung recently launched the new Samsung T5 Portable SSD which we’ll be reviewing today.Samsung Portable SSD T5 SpecificationsManufacturer SamsungModel T5Capacity 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TBInterface Type-C USB 3.1 (Gen 2), USB 3.0, USB 2.0Transfer Speed Up to [...]
Things are getting heated between Toshiba and Western Digital as Toshiba has recently filed a lawsuit against Western Digital over alleged violation of the Unfair Competition Prevention Act and Civil Code, and is seeking $120 billion yen ($1.07 billion USD) in compensation along with a permanent injunction. In their recent press release, Toshiba accused Western Digital of intentionally delaying the sale of TMC (Toshiba Memory Company) and improperly obtaining trade secrets through their joint venture partnership.
Toshiba claims that Western Digital delayed the sale of TMC by publicly and privately exaggerating its “consent right”, a clause in Western [...]
When a company is forced to sell a highly profitable business in a high growth industry with very few players involved, everyone takes notice. With Toshiba’s memory business, a number of big names such as Western Digital, SK Hynix, Broadcom, Foxconn, TSMC and more have already entered bids for a majority stake in the company, but it looks like competition is about to get a whole lot more intense.
According to a new report from KoreaHerald, as many as 10 companies have entered bids for the Toshiba memory business including heavyweights such as Amazon, Apple, and Google. While these companies are traditionally not in the business of selling SSDs, they heavily [...]
Market research firm, Forward Insights, recently released their 2016 SSD marketshare report and according to the report, 63 million SSDs were shipped in the channel over the past year despite the NAND shortage that occurred during a significant portion of the year. The channel market includes distributors, resellers, retail/e-tail, system builders, and solution providers.
As expected, Samsung took the #1 spot for SSDs shipped in the channel, racking up 21% of the market, or 13.23 million units. Following in the #2 spot is Kingston, which took 16% of the market, or 10.08 million units. This is followed by SanDisk, Micron, A-DATA and Toshiba with between 5%-7% [...]
When Samsung launched the Samsung 960 series SSD at their annual SSD Global Summit back in September, they promised two new drives – the Samsung 960 PRO and the Samsung 960 EVO.
Last month, we reviewed the Samsung 960 PRO which is designed for performance enthusiasts and professionals. In our testing, it exceeded our expectations making it the fastest M.2 PCIe SSD we’ve ever tested to date. Unforutnately, the Samsung 960 EVO wasn’t available at the time however, Samsung was hopeful that early samples would be available soon.
Fast forward and today we’ll be reviewing the Samsung 960 EVO, which is Samsung’s [...]
With SATA SSDs now at their limit, last year Samsung introduced the Samsung 950 PRO which marked the first time Samsung had introduced a NVMe PCIe SSD for the consumer market. Although Samsung already had OEM PCIe SSDs for quite some time and given that the technology was ready to go, it was only a matter of time until the Samsung 950 PRO was brought into the retail market. Given that the Samsung 950 PRO is a Samsung SSD and not a Samsung smartphone (too soon?) the Samsung 950 PRO did very well in the market quickly establishing itself as the defacto performance NVMe PCIe SSD to buy since it was launched last year.
Of course if you’re Samsung [...]
After officially closing on the SanDisk acquisition earlier this year, it looks like Western Digital is reaping the benefits of the acquisition with the introduction two new SSDs – the WD Blue and WD Green SSD.
The WD Blue SSD is WD’s mainstream offering, similar to what we get from their HDD lineup. Powered by a Marvell 88SS1074 controller paired with SanDisk 15nm TLC flash, the WD Blue is capable of performance up to 545 MB/s sequential reads and 525 MB/s sequential writes. Random read/write performance is expected to reach up to 100K/80K IOPS.
The WD Blue SSD will be offered in capacities of 250GB, 500GB, and 1TB. [...]
At Flash Memory Summit earlier this year, Samsung announced their new 48-layer 3D V-NAND and along with that they announced that they’ll be using the new NAND in their 850 EVO SSD, pushing capacities up to a staggering 4TB. Considering 1TB was the largest capacity just 4-5 years ago, a 4TB drive designed for the consumer is a really huge deal, no pun intended. As such, when we got the opportunity to test the monstrous 4TB Samsung 850 EVO SSD, we jumped on it.Samsung 850 EVO SpecificationsManufacturer SamsungModel 850 EVOCapacity 120GB 250GB 500GB 1TB 2TB 4TBController Samsung MGX Samsung MHXNAND Samsung 32-layer TLC [...]
Western Digital recently announced that they’re now demoing the new 1TB SanDisk Extreme PRO SDXC memory card prototype at the Photokina show now happening in Cologne, Germany.
“Showcasing the most advanced imaging technologies is truly exciting for us,” said Dinesh Bahal, vice president, product management, Content Solutions Business Unit, Western Digital. “Sixteen years ago we introduced the first SanDisk 64MB SD™ card and today we are enabling capacities of 1TB. Over the years our goal has remained the same; continue to innovate and set the pace for the imaging industry. The SanDisk 1TB SD card prototype represents another significant achievement as growth of [...]
Ever since Toshiba’s acquisition of OCZ back in 2014, we’ve seen a gradual move away from not only the OCZ branding, but also many Toshiba inspired internal changes in its SSDs. OCZ, which changed its name to OCZ Storage Solutions last year, is now Toshiba OCZ and the SSDs themselves are now practically re-branded Toshiba products with slightly modified firmware, additional bundled software, and modified retail packaging for the consumer SSD market. Why Toshiba hasn’t dropped the entire OCZ brand as a whole I’m not quite sure, but it seems like they’re preparing to drop the axe.
Along with the change in [...]


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This week’s Ad Fair ’10, which culminates in the local ADDY Awards, features a workshop about marketing and advertising for small businesses, along with receptions and an online auction.
The purpose of Ad Fair is to market the West Michigan industry that markets West Michigan’s industries, according to Clare Wade, president of AAF West Michigan, sponsor of Ad Fair ’10.
“People will be getting the opportunity to talk directly to professionals about social media, marketing, public relations — all that stuff,” said Wade, who is the proprietor of Clare Wade Communications.
A highlight for business owners begins on the Ad Fair’s second day. At 8:30 a.m. Wednesday — following registration and refreshments starting at 7:30 a.m. — is a morning-long workshop: “Advertising: The Engine for Small Business — A Marketing Essentials Workshop” at The Dominican Center, 2025 E. Fulton St. The workshop features Biggby Coffee founder & CEO Bob Fish as keynote speaker.
Other sessions cover topics such as strategic marketing on any budget; social and new media; measuring the impact of advertising; and public relations.
Business owners also may be interested in the online auction of advertising and marketing services, including billboards, airtime, copywriting services, ad space and creative services. Find the auction at theadfair.com.
The week begins 4-8 p.m. Tuesday with the Creative Crawl, when local advertising agencies, design firms and production studios throw open their doors for prospective clients and the rest of the public. It’s a chance to see the inner workings of production and creative work as well the notoriously cool offices for which advertising agencies are known. Each organization’s specialties and work will be on display.
This is the first time that Stevens Advertising, 190 Monroe Ave. NW, which was founded 93 years ago to serve Grand Rapids manufacturers, has participated in the Creative Crawl, President Allen Crater said. A board member at AAFWM, Crater said the open house will welcome both prospective clients and college students who are studying advertising, marketing and public relations, to the North Monroe office where it relocated about a year ago. It’s a chance for the company to present its story to a new audience, he noted.
“Our model is a little different. We are still a full-service agency,” he said. The agency served Amway for the direct sales giant’s first 25 years, into the 1980s. Today, its client list spans health care, hospitality, banking and retail.
“A lot of agencies in town either focus on just interactive or just design. There are folks that do just media or just branding and strategy. We really do all of those things,” Crater said.
Other firms participating in the Creative Crawl include Extra Credit Projects, Grey Matter Group, Hanon McKendry, Highland Group, Lawrence Productions, People Design and The Right Place. A map is available online at theadfair.com.
The Ad Fair concludes with Thursday’s ADDY Awards. The local ADDYs are the first step toward the American Advertising Federation’s national awards, chosen from among 60,000 entries from 200 member advertising clubs and 15 districts across the country.
The local awards will take on a new twist this year, said Geoff Shirley, creative director and partner at The Highland Group. He is a member of the event’s planning group.
“The event is going to be held at The Intersection this year. We’re pretty excited about that,” Shirley said. “Our industry … likes to have some fun. It’s a venue that suits that well.”
He said the event is less formal than in the past, using a “rock-n-roll” theme. Displays of nominated work and winners will be presented throughout the evening, rather than in one long session. More than 500 people are expected to attend.

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London, 7 November 2019 – Playtech, the world’s leading gambling technology company, has announced a major new partnership with GVC Holdings to launch a brand new dedicated Live Casino studio, Elevation.
The purpose-built space will launch in stages over the next two months, backed by a major marketing campaign, and will initially feature five Blackjack tables and a Roulette wheel studio. With a vast video wall creating a backdrop of a fully immersive skyline, Elevation is designed to be a true visual spectacle for players, bringing the Live Casino experience to life across GVC’s many major brands.
“As the parent company behind some of the most iconic brands in online gambling, GVC has been a key partner for us for many years, and we’re delighted to be extending that partnership with the development of Elevation”, says Shimon Akad, COO, Playtech. “We’ve significantly invested in our Live Casino technology and facilities in recent years, in addition to continually diversifying our content – so in a year when we’ve done more than ever to enhance our product, it seems only fitting to be working with an industry leader to deliver an ever-more innovative live experience.”
Shay Segev, COO at GVC, comments: “Live Casino is one of the major growth areas in the online gambling market, with players looking for a more immersive, entertainment-driven experience. Significant investment has gone into delivering the first stage of the Elevation studio and we’re delighted with the results.
“Playtech’s track record and experience in delivering innovative Live Casino technology and content is unsurpassed. We’re looking forward to continuing our successful partnership and delivering a world-class player experience”.
The development of Elevation follows a year of intense activity for Playtech’s Live Casino team, launching more new games and variants than ever and expanding into more and more markets. Q3 2019 alone has seen the launch of the first dedicated Roulette table for the Spanish market, plus major new releases such as Quantum Roulette, American Roulette, Heads Up Hold’em, All Bets Blackjack and the revamped Hi-Lo Club. Playtech’s Live Casino products are all fully compatible with the company’s Engagement Centre, developed to maximise CRM and player value potential via a personalised experience.
Founded in 1999 and premium listed on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange, Playtech is a technology leader in the gambling and financial trading industries.
Playtech is the gambling industry's leading technology company, delivering business intelligence-driven gambling software, services, content and platform technology across the industry’s most popular product verticals, including casino, live casino, sports betting, virtual sports, bingo and poker. It is the pioneer of omni-channel gambling technology through its integrated platform technology, Playtech ONE. Playtech ONE delivers data-driven marketing expertise, single wallet functionality, CRM and responsible gambling solutions across one single platform across product verticals and across retail and online.
Playtech partners with and invests in the leading brands in regulated and newly regulated markets to deliver its data-driven gambling technology across the retail and online value chain. Playtech provides its technology on a B2B basis to the industry’s leading retail and online operators, land-based casino groups and government sponsored entities such as lotteries. As of June 2018, through the acquisition of Snaitech, Playtech directly owns and operates the leading sports betting and gaming brand in online and retail in Italy, Snai. Snaitech operates a B2B2C model as a service provider, allowing franchisees to utilise the Playtech technology stack in the retail environment while operating the leading brand, Snai, directly online as a B2C business.
Playtech's Financials Division, named TradeTech Group, is a technology leader in the CFD and financial trading industry and operates both on a B2B and B2C basis.
Playtech has in total c.5,800 employees across 18 countries and is headquartered in the Isle of Man.
For further information please contact:
James Newman, Director of Corporate Affairs
Tom James, Vicky Newark c/o Headland Consultancy
+44 (0)20 3805 4822


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(NEW YORK) — Ever since the coronavirus pandemic put shopping in stores on pause, it’s been difficult for those who want to try on makeup products in person before buying.
But during the pandemic, companies like FabFitFun and Ipsy have grown in popularity and taken on the challenge of finding the right makeup products by helping subscribers discover different brands and products in a monthly box.
Influencers like Khloe Kardashian and Kylie Jenner swear by makeup subscription boxes and hype them up in advertisements on social media.
The cost of makeup subscription boxes can range from as low as $7 a month to as much as $50 a month.
“The makeup subscription business has been steadily growing as it becomes more crowded,” said Ashley Phillips, style and beauty editor for Business Insider. “Social media influencers are really helpful in bringing more visibility to different makeup brands.”
To see if these boxes are worth it, ABC News’ technology and consumer correspondent Becky Worley tried out four boxes and Good Housekeeping’s April Franzino weighed in on which ones have the best bang for your buck using the manufacturer’s suggested retail price.
For $25 a month, Boxycharm subscribers will receive up to five full-sized beauty products, which can cost $120 or more. The products can range from makeup and skin care, to beauty tools and color cosmetics.
Brands that have been included in past boxes include Tarte, Too Faced, Fenty Beauty, Dr. Brandt and more.
Overall, Franzino said Boxycharm was worth it.
“Boxycharm was a great value for the price that you pay,” she said.
FabFitFun is the priciest of the four boxes, but it also had the most value.
Subscribers have the option of either paying for an annual fee of $179.99 for FabFitFun boxes, or a quarterly fee of $49.99 for each box. In return, FabFitFun will send a box each season filled with eight products from home goods, fashion, wellness, beauty and more.
Franzino said the box has the best value — in fact, in Worley’s spring box, one of the products was a face cream worth almost $100.
“You receive products up to more than $300 in total value,” said Franzino. “I even was shocked when I opened the box and I was like, ‘Wow, I can’t believe you get this for $50."”
Walmart beauty box
Believe it or not, Walmart also has its own beauty box. For $6.98 per box, with one sent each season, consumers will receive beauty items from brands sold at Walmart.
Products in each box could be everything from nail polish and shampoo to face masks and toothpaste.
While the caveat for this box is that the products are sample size, Franzino said the value is still worth it.
“The value was $20,” said Franzino. “So you’re getting twice as much than you’re paying for.”
Like Boxycharm, Ipsy also aims to help subscribers discover new makeup brands and products with their beauty box or “Glam Bags.” But instead of offering just one beauty box, subscribers can choose from three different types.
For $12 a month, subscribers can receive a Glam Bag that offers five personalized, deluxe-size beauty samples, which can be worth over $50. Their next box, Glam Bag Plus, is $25 a month and delivers five personalized, full-size beauty products to subscribers. And finally, the Glam Bag X is similar to a FabFitFun box, with seven to eight full-sized products sent to members each season or quarter. Glam Bag X costs $55 per quarter.
Franzino called Ipsy a great deal.
“Each of those boxes came with seven products in them and they were all full size. They were from a lot of well-known brands; we felt like you were getting even more than promised,” she said.
The only downside was that the Ipsy Glam Bag Plus took the longest out of the four boxes to arrive.
Ipsy told ABC’s Good Morning America in a statement that “since the staffers signed up on April 15th, they received our May bag” and that glam bag plus membership includes a window “to build their perfect bag through ‘Ultra Personalization."”
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


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We have been hearing rumors about a new Razer Smartphone since the company bought Nextbit and now it looks like this new device could launch next month.
Razer has now revealed that it will be launching something new at a press event on the 1st of November, this was announced on Twitter and you can see the tweets below.
WATCH for our biggest unveiling…
— RΛZΞR (@Razer) October 11, 2017
As yet there is no confirmation on exactly what Razer is planning to launch, but there is a good chance that it is their new Razer Smartphone. As soon as we get some more details about the device, we will let you guys know.
Source Razer / Twitter
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March is almost over; markets are relatively the same as the beginning of March. The DJIA is up around 200 points for this month to 16,400 level - the resistance level. News for March are the following:
GrubHub orders up an IPO; US factory and spending data hint at improving economy; Chinese billionaires are growing at phenomenal rate; China sets 7.5% growth target for 2014; Facebook is in talks to buy drone maker; Safeway said to near $9 billion supermarket sale to Cerberus; Wing cracks found on dreamliers being built; Consumer credit in U.S. increased $13.7 billion in January; Economy adds 175,000 jobs, beating forecasts; Bank of America chief paid $13.1 million in 2013; eBay cuts chief executive John Donahoe's pay by 53%; Men's Wearhouse pay $65 per share to buy Jos. A. Bank; FTC opens inquiry into Herbalife; Amazon raises price of Prime membership to $99 a year; U.S. budget deficit narrows in first five months of fiscal year; number of U.S. millionaires hits new high; U.S. environmental agency drops ban on federal contracts with BP; China's Twitter "Weibo" files for $500 million IPO; GoDaddy eyes IPO; Quiznos bankruptcy; China's central bank allows its currency more volatile; New York takes London's crown as top financial center; GM recalls 1.5 million more vehicles; Factory output in U.S. rises most in six months; Yahoo gains on Alibaba IPO; Wells Fargo chief gets $19.3 million pay for 2013; Gamestop shares fall after Walmart announces competing game trade-in program; Fed will keep rates low a long time; Banks stress test 29 of 30 passed; Symantec fires CEO Steve Bennett; Mt. Gox recovers 200,000 missing Bitcoins; IRS to treat Bitcoin as property, not currency, for tax purposes; Candy Crush maker prices IPO; New-home sales fell 3.3% in February.
These are the popular news so far for March. They are mixed news - some are negative and some are positive. As markets are hitting the all-time highs again, investors should be cautious of a near-term correction.


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We received the news last year that the iconic bar nestled on the bustling corner of Kloofnek Road in Cape Town will sadly close its doors for good. But we didn't think the time would come so soon.
In a rather poignant Facebook post, Rafiki's owner, Miki shared a few sentiments and urged his customers to enjoy one last jol this weekend at their favourite bar. It really is the end of an era. But as they say - remember the good times!
Share your favourite Rafiki's moment in the comments section below.


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Prime Wireless opens in N’ville Park Place
Prime Wireless owner Ralph Kattula started 13 years ago with his first store and one employee. He had to take a second job to pay the bills, while managing his budding store during the day.
Through hard work, perseverance, and a smart business plan, Kattula was not only able to quit his second job, but to grow his business. AT&T took notice of Ralph’s dedication and attention to detail, offering him a chance to grow his business. Kattula now owns and operates 10 locations, including a new store in Northville
Prime Wireless will host a grand opening celebration 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Friday, Jan. 22 at the Northville Park Place plaza at Seven Mile and Haggerty. A free lunch will be provided. A live 95.5 FM radio station will be on site. The event will include a drawing for a trip to Houston to attend a final four game, along with many more rewards and prizes.
The ribbon cutting will take place at 12:30 p.m.


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SJ PIENAAR sticks her head out of her ramshackle office that's tacked to the front of her cheese factory like an afterthought and offers an enthusiastic welcome.
SJ bought The Second Mouse Cheese Co 18 months ago and is head cheesemaker.
She's been working at the modest little factory on the outskirts of Orange for five years now.
The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.
"It all started when my mum gave me a gift of a one-day cheese-making course for my 26th birthday," she says.
"And here we are today."
So about six years ago SJ became obsessed with making cheese, spending an intensive year at the Artisan Cheese Making Academy in Adelaide after setting aside a career in engineering.
Today there are eight cheeses produced and a secret newcomer known only as "The Italian Job", yet to be released.
There are continental European styles, Mediterranean and Swiss styles.
But what about the Italian addition?
"It's a farmhouse-style cheese, northern Italian style, from an area of Tuscany that's mainly farms, not many tourists go there," she says.
"It's the sort of cheese you serve with salami and gallons of red wine to your burly farm workers."
The cheese-making process begins with a delivery of 1000 litres of raw milk a week from the Little Big Dairy near Dubbo.
Then it is batch pasteurised on site.
"This is a big thing for us," she says.
"We hold it at 63 degrees Celsius for 30 minutes.
"Generally, when pasteurising big processors use heat exchange and hold it at 72C for 15 to 30 seconds.
"That's much harsher on the protein strings in the milk and there's bigger calcium losses."
SJ said there was still some protein loss and microflora loss using the gentler method, but not as much as occurs in large commercial operations.
"You do kill the good with the bad, but pasteuriation is necessary.
"Australians have good attitudes towards pasteurisation, not so the Europeans, they have quite a negative attitude to it," she said.
"For us raw milk is a no go, it's certainly not the future of Second Mouse."
Generally SJ sells her wares via farmer's markets at Orange, Bathurst, Dubbo, Forbes, Blackheath and then there is a range of independent stockists, providores, delis and the like.
She does a roaring trade with Ashcrofts IGA supermarkets in Orange, which has two large outlets in town.
Sweet Spot Bakery manager Ashleigh McLean says the popularity of Second Mouse Cheese is growing all the time.
"We've stocked it for years and the customers love it, people keep asking for the local cheese.
"It comes pre-packed in units and we order weekly, I think now the most popular is the brie."
That's a cheese described by the makers as "a double cream with a fine bloomy rind, ripened to full flavour".
Ashleigh said she had been responsible for ordering for about 18 months now and had watched as the orders grew from about five units of brie a week to now more than 30.
"We stock them all, it just seems the brie moves fastest.
"We do sell out of a lot of them, but that's the great convenience of buying local, if we run short SJ just drops more off for us.
"I spoke with her yesterday and she's coming in this afternoon with more."
That said, the coronavirus has been something of a hiccup for The Second Mouse Cheese Co, but it has led to what SJ says is the "next big move", and that's online ordering.
"There are a lot more transport options now.
"I guess Light n' Easy and Jenny Craig were the pioneers of fresh food delivery, but there's more now such as Hello Fresh and Marley Spoon.
"We're going to use Star Track, which is part of Australia Post, SJ said.
"Five years ago there were really no options for fresh food delivery.
"By the end of winter we think we'll be offering our cheeses online," she said.
Has such expansion taken a toll on her time?
"Gee, I think back to three years ago and I didn't have a care in the world, but now it's getting hectic," she said, obviously pleased with how the business is progressing.
"There's a different level of tourist coming through this district these days.
"People want to know about the product, they want to hear our story, they want to know we're local.
"They're definitely not happy with the amount of foreign ownership of Australia's food story."
SJ said that was why it was great buying single-source milk from The Little Big Dairy Co.
"I respect Little Big, they're intergenerational and they're looking after the land, and c'mon, they're stepping up in the Australian food supply chain.
"Their cows graze grass and crop and that gives it a higher nutritional content and higher volumes of keratin, which makes cheese yellow and gives you a greater protein capture.
"When we make cheese we band the proteins together, so a longer protein strand is good.
"And coming from a single source you definitely get seasonal variations, which we cherish."
At the moment Second Mouse is taking 1000 litres of milk a week and turning it into about 120 kilograms of cheese.
Jim Elliot, at Little Big, says because SJ is licensed, as is the dairy, raw milk can be transported directly to her.
The milk is moved in 1000-litre containers stacked in a refrigerated truck.
Anotheer cheese-maker, High Valley, also uses Little Big's milk.
But there is more to cheese than just cow's milk, which is why SJ is on the hunt for goat or sheep's milk.
What about camel milk?
She ponders a second and you can almost see her thoughts ticking over.
"Camel milk has a really high protein content, yeah . . . "
Watch this space.
Have you signed up for The Land morning briefing? You can register below. Each weekday morning you'll receive the latest in NSW agriculture.


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What inflation? Cost of living set to decrease in UAE in 2019
Abu Dhabi and Dubai saw deflation on at 0.9 per cent and 3.6 per cent, respectively.
Following a big jump in inflation in 2018 after the implementation of a 5 per cent value-added tax, some economists believe that the UAE economy will slip into deflation this year following a persistent decline in housing and fuel prices and an oversupply in the retail and hospitality sectors.
Monica Malik, chief economist at Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, said the UAE consumer price index contracted by 2.4 per cent on a year-on-year basis in January from a 0.4 per cent rise in December.
“We had expected to see deflation from January as the impact of the introduction of VAT in 2018 dropped out of the annual data and with the fall in housing and fuel prices,” she said.
The UAE levied 5 per cent VAT on a host of goods and services from January 1, 2018 as part of a GCC framework agreed among the Gulf nations, resulting in a spike in inflation in the first few months of the implementation.
“The January 2019 drop in prices was concentrated in certain major components of the inflation basket, driving the deflation. Notably, housing and utility prices contracted by 5.8 per cent on a year-on-year basis in January, reflecting the ongoing moderation in rental costs. Transportation prices fell 6.4 per cent year-on-year on the back of the plunge in the oil price at end-2018. Food prices also dropped by 1.1 per cent year-on-year in January, likely reflecting VAT falling out of the data,” Malik said in the latest note.
Deflation occurs when the inflation rate falls below 0 per cent – a negative inflation rate. Inflation reduces the value of a currency over time, but deflation increases it.
Garbis Iradian, chief economist for Middle East and North Africa at the Institute of International Finance, expects average CPI inflation for the UAE to be around 0.5 per cent in 2019 compared with 3.1 per cent in 2018.
“However, it is likely that some of the months this year will show a small negative year-on-year inflation due to base effect following the introduction of the VAT in early 2018 and the rise in domestic fuel prices in 2018,” he said.
Iradian attributed the continued decline in rents or housing, a fall in transportation or utilities cost due to the decline in domestic fuel prices, a relatively weak domestic demand and the depreciation of the euro and the Chinese yuan with respect to the US dollar, which made UAE imports from the eurozone and China cheaper as main reasons for relatively low inflation or the possibility of small deflation this year.
“Note that the average inflation for this year could be small negative if economic activity remains weak, say if non-oil growth fails to exceed 2 per cent. My forecast, however, is that real non-oil GDP growth will accelerate from 2.9 per cent in 2018 to 3.5 per cent in 2019,” he added.
The International Monetary Fund has forecasted a massive drop in the CPI inflation to 1.9 per cent this year from 3.5 per cent in 2018.
Malik noted that both Abu Dhabi and Dubai saw deflation on at 0.9 per cent and 3.6 per cent, respectively, on a year-on-year basis.
“The deeper contraction in Dubai reflects the greater fall in housing prices and the larger weighting of this component in the inflation basket. We expect to see rental prices continuing to fall throughout 2019 in Abu Dhabi and Dubai as supply growth continues to outstrip demand growth, particularly in Dubai,” she said in the note. “Regarding transportation costs, we forecast a lower annual average crude oil price for 2019 than in 2018, which should be reflected in domestic fuel prices. However, some months could see positive year-on-year growth in 2019, potentially March.”
Malik doesn’t see any meaningful strengthening in household spending as the deflation partly reflects structural challenges to the economy – namely, the oversupply in housing – despite the rise in purchasing power. This, along with other macro headwinds – such as oversupply in other key sectors such as hospitality and retail, the strong dirham, lackluster external demand, etc – is continuing to result in a weak labour market, including job uncertainty and soft wage growth.
“Moreover, the expected deflation backdrop will also likely contribute to the outlook for limited wage growth.”
Anita Yadav, senior director and head of fixed income research at Emirates NBD, says inflation in the UAE is expected to fall below 2 per cent in the current year as job growth remains muted. Also strength of the dirham against its major trading partners will keep imported inflation low.
“We do not expect deflation in the UAE over the forecast period. That said, the decline in inflation going forward is likely to come mainly from falling housing costs and low energy and food prices. Also, last year’s inflation was impacted by introduction of VAT which will drop off in the current year-on-year calculations,” said Yadav.
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Collected and published by propertyeportal.com editorial team. Get in touch with us at [email protected]


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Columbus, Ohio – Carr Supply has opened a new branch in Lima, Ohio, providing high-quality plumbing, HVAC, and water service supplies and equipment to contractors in a five-county area of northwest Ohio.
The Lima location becomes the 18th Carr Supply branch. Carr Supply is part of Dayton, Ohio-based WinWholesale Inc., one of the nation’s largest distributors of residential and commercial construction and industrial supplies and materials with more than 560 location in 45 states.
The team at the Lima branch has 40 years of experience in plumbing, HVAC and water service. “Customers are our first priority,” said Greg Essig, President of Carr Supply. “Our branches rely on their expertise and customer focus to become business partners with our customers to help them grow their businesses.”
Jack Johnston, President of WinWholesale, added, “Carr Supply continues to serve its customers well in the Ohio, Michigan and Kentucky markets. I look for Greg and his team to continue to grow by providing exceptional service in their markets.”
Carr Supply carries well-known brands such as American Standard, Bradford White, Comfortmaker, Tempstar, Goulds and CSI among many others.


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BlackBerry maker Research In Motion, after disappointing shareholders, is working to assuage another group hard hit by the news that the long-delayed BlackBerry 10 platform won t be released until early 2013.
Alec Saunders, Research In Motion’s vice president of developer relations, wrote in a June 30 post on the Inside BlackBerry Developer Blog that RIM remains strongly committed to its developers.
“You’ve got businesses to run, rent to pay and investors to answer to,” Saunders wrote. “You are the folks who have skin in the game now, and aren’t just waiting for a new phone personally. We know this delay affects you, and we’re sorry.”
During RIM’s June 28 earnings call, CEO Thorsten Heins shared that the platform’s release had to be pushed from late 2012 to early 2013. The integration of such a large volume of incoming code, he explained, would take more time than originally expected.
“I will not deliver a product to the market that is …anything less than an outstanding user experience with the quality I expect a BlackBerry product to have,” Heins said in his opening remarks. “There will be no compromise on this issue.”
Heins went on to share that RIM had suffered a $518 million loss during the quarter, and to save money was cutting 5,000 jobs, roughly a third of its workforce.
Michael Finneran, president of dBrn Associates, believes that in that pummeling of bad news, the delay of BlackBerry 10 was the death blow.
“RIM’s product line is simply not competitive. Even at its best, BlackBerry 10 would have challenges, as the initial devices were to be the first RIM smartphones without a keyboard, one of the features that had kept many of the remaining RIM fans loyal,” Finneran wrote in a June 29 blog post on No Jitter. “With Apple poised to introduce the iPhone 5 later this year and an ongoing torrent of Android devices pouring onto the market, this is the worst of all failings.”
RIM”s Heins, offering shareholders what good news he could, talked about how encouraged and excited the company is by the traction that BlackBerry 10 has received with developers and content partners. The company is currently hosting a 23-city BlackBerry 10 Jam World Tour–a series of daylong events acquainting developer communities with the ins and outs of BlackBerry 10–that Heins said is sold out in London, Barcelona, Berlin, Toronto, Montreal, New York, Santa Clara and Singapore (though it’s difficult to imagine RIM turning anyone away).
To read the original eWeek article, click here: Despite BlackBerry 10 Delay, RIM Begs Developers to Keep Working


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E-books are being widely adopted as alternatives to traditional textbooks. Here you'll find articles detailing new developments in the area of e-book and e-textbook technologies, along with stories about institutions adopting them.
California's Senate is pondering legislation to mandate the development of digital textbooks in order to save college students money. A new bill proposes that the state invest $25 million to create 50 new textbooks, which would be made available free to students in digital form or would cost $20 each in printed form.
Virtually everyone who works at an academic institution has experienced the complexity, uncertainty, and sometimes turmoil that has resulted from the collision of the new and evolving digital media world with a system of copyright that was originally created for more traditional media. Ray Uzwyshyn, director of online libraries for the American Public University System--with 104,000 all-online students--sees these challenges often and suggests that it’s time to rethink digital copyright assumptions.
Research and reference publisher Gale has done a major revamp of the interface for Gale Virtual Reference Library, its online e-book platform, emulating some of the techniques used by physical libraries.
Seven out of 10 undergraduate students attending the University of California, Riverside don't buy textbooks, preferring to rent them, rely on instructor-provided materials, or go without.
CourseSmart has released a new app that allows users access to e-textbooks from mobile devices including the Kindle Fire, iPad, and Android devices.
Amazon will release its new tablet, the Kindle Fire, one day early, and its new e-readers, the Kindle Touch and the Kindle Touch 3G, six days early.
Wake Forest University and Odigia have partnered to create BioBook, a digital alternative to college-level biology textbooks.
To meet the expectations of today's tech-savvy students, colleges and universities are looking for ways to speed up their processes and provide better services for their No. 1 customer.
The results of a nationwide survey about technology in higher education suggest that the growth of mobile computing on campus has been dramatic in the last year, but that despite the attention paid to cloud computing, most universities are taking a wait-and-see approach for most applications beyond e-mail.
Berkeley College has selected Courseload, Inc. to provide digital material for the college’s online academic program.


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The Samsung Galaxy S6 and LG G4 are among the most celebrated smartphones released this year, but are these two critically acclaimed devices truly worth their higher premiums when compared to cheaper flagship phones?
Motorola reveals plans for Stagefright patch rollout
Motorola's G line has brought users affordability without skimping on the specs, but how does the newest device from the company fare against the competition? We find that out, and more, in our full review of the Motorola Moto G 2015!
The Moto X Pure Edition won't be on sale until this September, but that shouldn't stop you from customizing your device early. Check out the new Moto Maker customization options for the new Pure Edition Moto X!


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Last updated on September 12th, 2022 at 06:16 pm
Somerville, Massachusetts-based Formlabs, a 3D printing technology developer and manufacturer, is opening a regional headquarters this week in the Third Ward, located at 220 E. Buffalo St.
The company did not indicate how many people will initially be working at the new Milwaukee location, but job postings on the Formlabs website show at least 13 openings. The new office will support Formlabs’ growing sales and service team as the company pursues a global expansion.
“As a key hub for technical innovation and manufacturing, Milwaukee is uniquely suited to support Formlabs’ regional headquarters and the expansion of additive manufacturing, a key part of President Biden’s AM Forward initiative, focusing on improving supply chain resilience through adoption of additive manufacturing,” reads an announcement from the company.
Formlabs was named a finalist in Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas Awards for the most 3D-printed object in history: test swabs created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Formlabs also develops its 3D printing software.
Max Lobovsky, an MIT graduate, is the co-founder and CEO of Formlabs. He helped lead the company through the creation and launch of the world’s first affordable, powerful desktop stereolithography 3D printer.
In May of 2021, Formlabs officially doubled its valuation to $2 billion while also completing a $150 million Series E funding round. The company has raised $253.7 million in total funding, according to Crunchbase.
Formlabs also has offices in Germany, Japan, China, Singapore, Hungary and North Carolina. There are over 750 Formlabs employees across the globe.


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MADRID, June 1 (Reuters) - Spain is set to become the first European country to have a law regulating the use of so-called loot boxes in videogames, aiming to avoid "thoughtless, compulsive or even pathological" consumer behaviour, the government said on Wednesday.
The loot boxes – digital packages of virtual items that can be purchased using real money - are an important source of developers' revenue.
They give players the chance to win desirable or often randomised game-changing equipment, and allow gaming companies a stream of high-margin income.
Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register.
Loot boxes have introduced similar features to those of traditional gambling, including the randomness of prizes that have a quantifiable value, and a cost to activate the mechanism.
Younger boys tend to use these purchasing mechanisms the most, it showed.
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. »


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Archive for the ‘Jonway’ Category
Published on April 24, 2013 by Tycho de Feyter
The facelifted Jonway A380 SUV has been launched on the Shanghai Auto Show. The facelift includes a completely new grille, new bumpers, new lights, new and giant wheels, and an updated interior. The facelifted Jonway A380 will be launched on the China car market later this year.
Published on April 8, 2013 by W.E. Ning
The very first spy shots of the facelifted Jonway A380 SUV. The facelift includes an all-new grille, new head lights, new rear lights and new bumpers. The facelifted Jonway A380 will debut on the Shanghai Auto Show later this month and it will be launched on the Chinese car market soon thereafter. On pic the three-door A380.
Published on August 30, 2012 by Joey Wang
It never ends… Jonway has applied in for patent for a new Jonway A280, which loox very very much like Suzuki Jimny. Well, we are glad to see that Jonway is diversifying, their A380 is a copy of the old Toyota RAV4. Jonway however didn’t do a 100% copy-paste, they thought the Jimny a bit too small and therefore stretched it up around the B-pillar.
Published on August 27, 2012 by W.E. Ning
Patent has been applied for a facelift for the Jonway A380, the updated car is expected to hit the China auto market before the end of this year. The facelift includes a new grille, new headlights, new led-lights in the bumper and a new bumper. The back and interior won’t change. The A380 debuted in 2010 and was last updated in March.
Published on May 19, 2012 by Tycho de Feyter
A new minivan has been launched on the Chinese car market. This is the Jonway Wuxing, its main competitor is Wuling, the famous minivan joint venture between SAIC, GM and Wuling Automotive. The Wuxing minivan is made by Jonway Auto, known for cheap ‘n crappy pickup trucks and for the nicely named Jonway A380.
Name again, is special here. Sure Jonway choose Wuxing on purpose, it almost sounds the same in Chinese as Wuling and it almost means the same. Wuxing (五星) means ‘Five Stars’, Wuling (五菱) means ‘Five (sharp) Squares’. Competition in the minivan segment is sure heating up!
Published on March 9, 2012 by Tycho de Feyter
What a day! Today indeed, marks the first time I write about Jonway Automobile on this website. Therefore I say: “Welcome Jonway”, and good news it is; the new Jonway A380 has been officially listed on the Chinese car market, price starts 80.800 yuan and ends at 99.700 yuan.


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“Today, there is a lot of nostalgia for the way things used to be,” Bob Evans Farms President John Fisher said in a release. “Our new menu and product introductions combine the traditional with the contemporary and allow us to build a better Bob Evans.”
Other new menu items include:
• Bob Evans Burger –Angus beef burger on a brioche bun with bacon, cheese, lettuce, tomato, Sriracha-avocado mayonnaise, topped with a fried egg;
• Steakhouse Burger – topped with smoked bacon, grilled mushrooms and onions, cheese and steak sauce;
• Veggie Omelet – filled with vegetables and shredded cheddar cheese.
Bob Evans is combining the menu-item introductions with a redesigned, streamlined menu that allows customers to customize their meals with choices, prices and portion sizes, company officials said.
The New Albany, Ohio-based chain has faced some struggles. It announced in April 2016 that it was closing 27 underperforming Bob Evans restaurants. Those closings included the restaurant at 1929 Harshman Road in Riverside as well as several others in Toledo and Indianapolis. In May 2015, the restaurant chain closed 17 restaurants as part of a cost-cutting move, although all 17 were located outside Ohio.
In February 2016, this news outlet reported that Bob Evans Restaurants had been named "Best Breakfast" chain by the Colorado-based research firm Market Force Information, based on a survey of 6,700 consumers conducted in late 2015. Consumers in the survey ranked Bob Evans highest among breakfast chains for quality food and healthy choices.


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MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA - Google CEO, Larry Page, announced today that their newest spin-off product, the Google "Googlie", will be in U.S. stores as soon as May.
Page reported that Babies "R" Us and Just 4 Kidz will feature the new product in their stores throughout the country. The Googlie was designed to be a techno-nanny, but instead of resembling a teddy bear, or a real person, the Googlie looks like a brightly colored soccer ball.
"Today's babies want to be more autonomous of adults," explains Page. "They are no longer interested in being hovered over by helicopter parents, or other adult caretakers with British accents. The Googlie gives the child a sense of independence while at the same time watching over the child in a safe and constructive way."
In a video presentation shown to reporters, two toddlers are shown happily kicking the Googlie around just like they would a regular soccer ball. Although the child does not detect the difference, there is a significant difference between a soccer ball and a Googlie. According to Page, while a soccer ball has no intelligence, a Googlie has super intelligence.
"Our hardware and software engineers have designed a product that can intuit an individual baby's every need. Diaper change? No problem. The Googlie guides the baby to the nearest State Owned Baby Changing Facility. Hunger? No problem. The Googlie will satisfy the baby's hunger with a nourishing meal at the nearest State Owned Breastfeeding Station. Every baby in the U.S. will be able to function without the constant oppressive presence of parents, older siblings, or other babysitters."
When asked about the cost of the Googlie, Page remarked that Google and the federal government have developed a program, "The Googlie Project", to help babies obtain the $50,000 Googlie without the assistance of their parents.
"We want to start them on the road to financial autonomy from their parents, as well as financial responsibility, as soon as possible," explained Page. "They are our customers of the future and we want to treat them right. Our slogan is, 'Google Googlies Make Happy Babies' and happy babies makes Google happy."


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The Social Street (TSS), launched by former DDB Mudra hands Pratap Bose and Mandeep Malhotra, has announced the launch of its retail practice.
The new practice will be headed by Asheesh Tyagi. Tyagi moves in from Cheil India where he was the VP of the retail marketing operations. He will be based in Delhi NCR.
Akshay Gupta will join Tyagi to lead client development and project management. Prior to this he was projects head and client servicing director -- Samsung IT and mobile communications division, Cheil Worldwide.
Amit Singh has also joined The Social Street to lead business strategy, planning, analytics, and innovations in the retail space. Singh was retail strategy planning lead for Samsung at Cheil.
Bose said, "The retail market in India is rapidly evolving but yet at a very nascent stage where retail is more of an art rather than a science, and brands are under increasing pressure to get more out of their investments in retail, and that’s where, we at TSS have understood the need of the hour to eliminate this subjectivity. The newly launched retail practice at TSS will primarily focus on bringing in more transparency and a ROI-driven output with technology-enabled solutions for our clients. To achieve the same, the retail practice team partnering with Tyagi has the diversified experience in strategy, project management and brand communications."
TSS' retail practice officially launched on 1 August in Mumbai, and will operate from all three regional headquarters – Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru.
Bose explained that the core capability of the retail practice will be to bring in operational, cost and business efficiencies to clients. He added, "Our solutions will help in bridging the gap between online, which is e-commerce and m-commerce, and the brick and mortar retail formats."
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Mitsubishi announced last month it will no longer sell its i-MiEV electric hatchback in the United States, ending a five-year run characterized mostly by disappointing sales. Despite high hopes dating back to 2011 when it was released, and the lowest price among EVs, Mitsubishi managed to put fewer than 2,000 units on the road.
Even before the car hit the market, reviewers complained that the i-MiEV’s range was lower than the advertised 62 miles. In fact, under real world conditions, the i-MiEV’s range drops to 50 miles or less—if heat or air conditioning is required, or if driving into a headwind. Between its disappointing range, diminutive size, cartoonish styling and cheap interior, the i-MiEV was not well-suited to American car buyers. (The car fared better in Japan, where it serves as a small city car for short-distance drivers.)
Geting Real with Bigger Cars
On the heels of a financial turnaround, Mitsubishi is positioning itself to compete in the segment where it performs best: SUVs. In an interview with Automotive News, Osamu Masuko, Mitsubishi’s chief executive, said his company will launch three SUV models by 2020. New generations of the Outlander and Outlander Sport, as well as a yet-to-be-named new model, will fit in between its two current platforms.
The company promises that eventually all three platforms will house plug-in hybrid or EV powertrains. For the time being, Mitsubishi is preparing to offer a plug-in model it first promised for 2013, but after repeated delays will finally introduce in the U.S. in the coming spring: The 2017 Outlander Plug-in Hybrid.
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Global digital payment solutions leader BPC and its SME marketplace, SafalFasal, have supported more than 75,000 Covid-hit farmers across India by offering technological and financial solutions to help the farm sector keep food and supply chain rolling, during and after the lockdown phase. The company has successfully extended formal financing to the farming industry by creating an easy credit line via NBFCs.
With the COVID-19 exposing new vulnerabilities on the agriculture sector, crops and livestock prices, vital advice and mentoring are being extended from multiple institutions backing SafalFasal, including Tanager, Bayer, Coromondal, Greaves and other reputed domestic and international players. These relationships have helped farmers match with buyers and ecosystem partners and create contingency plans.
SafalFasal provides linkage to credit providers and also serves as a platform to access suppliers and trade with merchants and distributors, in an end-to-end ecosystem. BPC has shared pilot phase results run between January 1, 2020 and March 31, from this new digital platform, which showcases how SafalFasal has helped Indian farmers. Working with ICICI Bank, as well as microfinance institutions and P2P lenders, SafalFasal provides farmer producer organisations (FPOs) and retailers with instant access to digital finance to support farmers previously excluded from the formal economy and immediately pay them for their produce. Over time, FPOs build a financial profile that enables more accurate credit scoring, improving the rate for them, while reducing the risk for the lender.
The platform has already seen US$64,000 in transactions, exceeding target by 150 percent. SafalFasal has enabled access to business credit to farmer producer organisations to make immediate payment to farmers for their produce thereby easing the financial needs of farmers.
“In the last three weeks of the pilot we had to act fast with the unexpected challenge of COVID-19,” said Debarshi Dutta, EVP and Global Head of SafalFasal.
“Reinforcing our mission, SafalFasal was able to provide farmers with invaluable guidance to overcome the new challenges facing them including a broken supply chain. Farmers know they are not alone when they are a part of the Marketplace. Our model has proven to be a lifeline to help farmers digitalise their services at a time when online purchasing and payments have accelerated dramatically,” Dutta added.
SafalFasal has facilitated food security by educating farmers on how they can ensure business continuity while not exposing themselves to the virus. The team at SafalFasal has also been focused on gathering all requirements for the next sowing season for inputs and preparing the ground for credit support, so that the marketplace is able to weather the impact of the pandemic.
In addition to this, it is also helping farmers prepare for the post-confinement rise in demand, by working with all ecosystem players to ensure an agile plan is in place to strategically deliver produce to their destination using multiple shipping methods and locations.
The closed-loop trading environment forges critical market linkages, by also serving as a digital trading platform for farmers to market their goods to local merchants and distributors. Access to credible advisors including Tanager, Bayer, Coromondal, Greaves and other domestic and international players provides farmers with guidance and negotiating power to guarantee they can sell crops at the optimum price and repay their loans.
“Farmers form the backbone of India’s economy yet many of them – including women farmers – are invisible to banks, credit organisations and buyers, said Jane Loginova, COO at BPC. “The SafalFasal Marketplace model puts farmers on a level playing field with the whole agricultural value chain, giving them a voice, negotiating power and financial access to the real economy,” Loginova added.
The ambition for SafalFasal is to geographically expand India to 200,000 farmers and achieve US$33 million in transaction value in the financial year 2020-2021. Using BPC’s SME Marketplace solutions, the wider mission is to positively impact the lives of 10 million producers across the globe within the next five years.
BPC and SafalFasal are calling for financial institutions, investors and partners to collaborate to gain new access to untapped markets in India and beyond.


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ONLINE Giant Asos To Invest £90million In New UK Warehouse creating 2000 jobs
Asos, the online fashion retail giant has announced plans to invest £90million in developing a new 437,000 square feet estate with a warehouse, in Fradley Park, Lichfield, Staffordshire, which will create 2000 new jobs over three years, once it is completed, scheduled to be 2023.
The company reported pre-tax profits of £142.1million for the year to August 31, up 329% from £33.1million in the previous year, with a 19 pre cent increase in sales.
Nick Beighton, chief executive officer of Asos said: “This significant investment in infrastructure and large-scale job creation is a reflection of the confidence Asos has in its future and the quality of the skills and talent available in this well-placed location”.
Commenting on the news, Alok Sharma, the Business Secretary said the firm was a “great British success story” with a “skilled workforce”, and, “This job-creating investment in Lichfield is exactly the type of long-term commitment we need from businesses as we build back better from the pandemic”.
Thank you for taking the time to read this news article “Online Giant Asos To Invest £90million In New UK Warehouse”.
For more UK daily news, Spanish daily news and, Global news stories, visit the Euro Weekly News home page.


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One of the most established names in home entertainment has announced plans to get behind 3D TV production. Sir Howard Stringer, Chief Executive of Sony, has announced ahead of the IFA technology show in Berlin that the company will sell 3D TVs globally by the end of 2010. The move is no great surprise as many of Sony's rivals …
rapid open and closing goggles?
so hows that going to affect my epilepsy then?
- World's OLDEST human DNA found in leg bone – but that's not the only boning going on...
- Lightning strikes USB bosses: Next-gen jacks will be REVERSIBLE
- OHM MY GOD! Move over graphene, here comes '100% PERFECT' stanene
- Pics Brit inventors' GRAVITY POWERED LIGHT ships out after just 1 year
- Beijing leans on Microsoft to maintain Windows XP support


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After angering customers last summer, Netflix is working to turn its image around by improving its viewing experience. To that end, the streaming video giant has decided to launch its own content delivery network, or CDN.
The move to launch Open Connect, a single-purpose content delivery network, comes at a time when Netflix reports streaming nearly 1 billion hours of television and movies per month.
Until now, Netflix has been delivering these petabytes of data through commercial content delivery networks, which at times had offered spotty performance. Netflix isn't getting ride of these general purpose commercial CDNs -- at least not yet -- it's just beefing up the network by enabling ISPs to get Netflix video data from Open Connect.
Controlling Its Destiny
"The world's other major Internet video provider, YouTube, has long had its own content delivery network," said Ken Florance, vice president of Content Delivery at Netflix. "Given our size and growth, it now makes economic sense for Netflix to have one as well. We'll continue to work with our commercial CDN partners for the next few years, but eventually most of our data will be served by Open Connect."
Florance went on to explain that, like commercial CDNs, Open Connect will provide the Netflix data at no cost to the locations the ISP desires, or ISPs can choose to get the Netflix data at common Internet exchanges. About 5 percent of Netflix data is already being served by Open Connect.
We caught up with Rob Enderle, principal analyst at the Enderle Group, to get his take on Netflix CDN inspiration. He told us Netflix is moving to control its destiny, and called Open Connect a natural progression for a company that wants to own its future.
"Issues with the network and consumer satisfaction were a problem causing a certain amount of customer erosion," Enderle said. "Netflix offering more of the content delivery infrastructure should help them avoid some of those problems, at least with regard to centralized bottlenecking and throttling. So it's critical to Netflix long-term to get their arms around the content delivery and better control it."
This is the latest in a string of Netflix moves. In late May, Netflix named Cindy Holland to a new role as vice president of Original Content. Netflix Originals are being produced by some of the most highly acclaimed talent in Hollywood.
Netflix Originals include "House of Cards," a political thriller that is executive-produced by David Fincher and starring Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright, and "Orange is the New Black," a new drama from "Weeds" creator Jenji Kohan and the long-awaited comeback of cult comedy favorite "Arrested Development."
Also in May, Netflix and Twentieth Century Fox Television Distribution announced a multi-year licensing agreement that will make more TV series and films available for Netflix members in Latin America. Netflix also released an updated, international version of the Netflix App for Windows Phone, increasing the number of devices supported by Netflix in Latin America, the U.K. and Ireland.


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China: Multinationals Hear It Online
Was the Sichuan earthquake, which has killed tens of thousands of Chinese, some sort of retribution for the Beijing government's repression of Buddhists in Tibet? Actress Sharon Stone on May 24 suggested that it was. Ever since, angry Chinese have taken to the Internet to denounce the star of Basic Instinct and spokesperson for Dior (which belongs to LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton) on blogs and online forums. "These kind of remarks deeply hurt Chinese people's feeling and are totally unacceptable," wrote a netizen calling herself Mariah on May 26 on a popular online site. Mariah added she plans to "boycott Dior's product from now on." To contain the damage, Dior China issued an apology and said it would "immediately" cut Stone from all China advertising. "We absolutely disagree with and feel regret for this comment," the company said in a statement.
LVMH (LVMH.PA) is just the latest multinational struggling to calm angry Chinese consumers using the Internet and text messaging to broadcast their grievances. McDonald's (MCD), KFC (YUM) and Motorola (MOT) have been among the companies pilloried via mobile-phone text messages and in the Chinese blogosphere for allegedly donating too little money toward earthquake relief, even though the companies have publicly announced hefty contributions. McDonald's, which even saw protesters briefly mill outside restaurants in Jiangsu and in Sichuan, announced it was upping its contribution to a total of $1.7 million. Nokia (NOK) issued four separate press releases detailing its total contribution of $7.6 million, plus a donation of 5,000 mobile phones.
The Net's Challenge Equals Its Opportunity
Earthquake relief is not the only hot-button issue. Since the outbreak of anti-Beijing demonstrations in Tibet in March, the Chinese blogosphere has been singling out multinationals investing in China for real or perceived slights, even though many companies have adopted nationalist-themed ad campaigns to capitalize on Olympic fever (BusinessWeek.com, 5/28/08).
After rumors that executives of retailer Carrefour (CARR.PA) supported Tibetan independence spread on the Net in April, protesters gathered outside stores in Beijing, Kunming, Wuhan, and Dalian. LVMH was targeted online with calls for a boycott of the French luxury brand following the disruption of the Olympic torch relay in Paris. Even Coca-Cola (KO), a sponsor of the relay and the Beijing Games, got ripped into by bloggers in April after a Chinese student in Germany saw an old print ad by the soft-drink giant showing Tibetan monks, which some Chinese netizens figured indicated support for Tibetan independence.
China's Internet, now the world's largest with more than 210 million users, is proving as much a challenge as an opportunity as brands more and more get battered online. The 49 million Chinese bloggers and 75 million regular BBS, or online bulletin board, users put up an average of 10 million new posts a day. And online forums on industries and brands ranging from cosmetics, mobile phones, software, laptops, and autos are proliferating. So-called Internet influencers—those bloggers or BBS posters who have developed a loyal following—reign supreme, sometimes able to derail a new product launch with a single posting. "Since Internet content posted by users can't be controlled, most companies are afraid of the Net," says Song Zheng, executive chief editor of Tianya.cn, the Chinese online forum in which Google (GOOG) is an investor, in an e-mail response to BusinessWeek.
National Pride Is Surging
The phenomenon isn't new. Toyota Motor (TM) was rapped back in 2003 for an ad showing Chinese lions bowing to and saluting its Prado SUV, while Nike (NKE) got in trouble for a 2004 television ad that showed NBA star LeBron James beating up Chinese dragons. Not all of the complaints are about politics. In 2006, computer buyers angry at Dell (DELL) for allegedly poor service found like-minded Chinese in online chat rooms (BusinessWeek.com, 8/3/06).
But with Internet users growing at more than 50% a year—and tensions in China running high because of Tibet, the Olympics, and now the earthquake—the scale of the bashing this year is unprecedented. French automaker PSA Peugeot-Citroën (PEUP.PA) apologized in January for what was meant to be a humorous Citroën advertisement featuring a photo of a scowling Mao Zedong. German sportswear maker adidas (ADSG.DE) was similarly contrite after a Chinese blogger discovered its new handbag featured a design combining the Chinese flag with the company logo. "The product was pulled from the marketplace," says Erica Kerner, director of the Beijing 2008 Olympics Program for adidas. "There was no intent to do anything that was in any way disrespectful. It was meant to be a celebration of the Games and of the Chinese spirit."
What's driving all the anti-foreign company venom? Surging nationalism is a key element. And proud Chinese youth emboldened by the upcoming Beijing Olympics are ultra-sensitive to any hint that companies aren't showing proper respect for China and the Chinese people. "Everyone should remember these are immoral companies," said the most widely distributed text message accusing foreign companies of not supporting the Sichuan earthquake relief. "Love China! Support Chinese products! China will be stronger!"
There is no evidence yet to suggest that all the negative buzz is affecting sales. But with so many companies counting on the growing Chinese market to power their profits now and in the years ahead, it's not surprising that nobody is ready to take a chance.
See BusinessWeek.com's slide show for a look at 10 companies that have been stung by China's blogosphere.


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Home Tags Workcations
Airbnb helps Singapore hotels tap into remote work boom
Airbnb has launched the Discover the Travel Revolution initiative which provides Singaporeans with a limited-time offer of S$50 (US$37) off any Airbnb stay listed...
A warm welcome
The pandemic’s work-from-home movement has nudged consumers into the arms of work-friendly hospitality spaces, presenting an unexpected boon to players in the long-stay market. Now, daytime workcation packages have become a life buoy for Asia’s serviced residences, reports Pamela Chow.
Changing face of workspaces
The rise of remote working has fuelled an appetite for extended stays among travellers seeking to escape from work-from-home routines. With that, hospitality players and destinations are adapting their offerings to tap on the longer-stay trend.
Oakwood turns residences into workspaces
As the remote working trend gains pace, Oakwood is now offering a day-use room package across 17 properties in Asia-Pacific. The Work from Oakwood package...
Philippine hotels answer demand for workations, on-site medical services
Philippine hotels and resorts are evolving their products and services to adapt to changing demands and lifestyles during the pandemic, including pushing out packages...


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Johnson Evinrude Omc Snowmobile Ski Column Spindle Set 68-70 Skee Horse Skeeter on 2040-parts.com
Goodrich, Michigan, United States
Manufacturer Part Number:404219 and 404216
Johnson Evinrude OMC snowmobile ski column Spindle SET 68-70 Skee Horse Skeeter, omc part numbers 404219 and 404216, both in like new condition, they have been primed with an etching primer and are ready to paint and install. Shipping of $12.75 to the US.
Skis & Runners for Sale
Tue, 07 Jul 2009
A plug-in electric powertrain once destined for a Saturn crossover will live on at General Motors and will arrive in 2011 in another vehicle. GM vice chairman and product chief Tom Stephens confirmed to wire service Reuters that the project remains on track. The automaker was scheduled to bring a plug-in version of the Saturn Vue to market in 2011.
Wed, 19 Oct 2011
Holden, the Australian arm of General Motors famous for its thumping V8-powered super-saloons, has lovingly restored its first-ever concept car from the late 1960s. Debuting at the 1969 Melbourne Motor Show, the sleek Hurricane concept was a mid-engine, rear-drive, two-seat sports car that embodied a variety of conceptual technologies that were years – decades even – ahead of its time. The Hurricane featured a digital instrument display, station-seeking radio and automatic temperature control air conditioning.
Wed, 23 Jan 2008
By Ben Pulman
First Official Pictures
23 January 2008 14:26
Mazda will debut the three-door 2 at the Geneva Motor Show in early March. And while the five-door 2 hardly looks staid, and actually rather dynamic, the Japanese company is claiming the three-door will be even more sporty. Quite how this will be achieved Mazda doesn’t say and is remaining tight lipped until nearer show time.


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German online bank N26 spent the pandemic shaping up for success, undeterred by any economic shifts. Despite some minor setbacks (which included pulling out of the U.K. market following Brexit), the neobank managed to fill a treasure chest of funds and reduce losses. With the company in order, N26 has set its sights on a potential fintech acquisition.
Founded in 2013 by Maximilian Tayenthal and Valentin Stalf, N26 has rapidly become a key challenger bank in the European region, valued at $3.5 billion and providing stiff competition to its peers Revolut in Europe and Chime in the U.S. Credited for redesigning banking in the 21st century, N26 has raised a total of $800 million to date from major investors that include Chinese tech giant Tencent and known billionaires such as Peter Thiel and Li Ka-shing. Earlier this year, the fintech surpassed 7 million customers across Europe and the U.S. This increase was more than doubled from the 2 million customers reported in January 2020.
These successes come from the company’s strategic focus, which in 2020 included improving and scaling digital banking offers to anticipate and stay abreast of the changing needs of consumers during the pandemic. As digital solutions were increasingly sought, N26 rose to the challenge. 2020 saw the company deliver more features, improve service, and focus on delivering a customer experience with satisfaction through every transaction. Tap-to-pay options with a smartphone wallet and the ability to automate recurring payments to any nominated receiver proved that the company enabled simple financing.
As a result, the company’s gross revenue has continued a steady trajectory while losses were trimmed from €165 million in 2019 to €110 million in 2020. With losses reduced as funds were raised, the company has not been shy to discuss acquisition plans.
On what exactly they are looking for, N26’s Co-CEO, Tayenthal said, “It could be players that are strong in certain areas; think about trading, think about KYC (know your customer). There could be other fintechs; challenger players in our space that have a good customer base.” Tayenthal also shared that the company intends to hire an additional 200 employees this year which will bring its current staff tally up to 1,700 globally. Strategically, the company also acquired a banking license to expand in Brazil, where a large potential market has been identified.
In arguably one of the most competitive and fast-growing spaces of the moment, fintechs face a lot of challenges in remaining competitive. However, N26 has proven that it has the competitive edge and strategic follow through to keep on top of the wave.


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The Corvette, an iconic American sports car, has captivated automotive enthusiasts for generations. As Chevrolet prepares to launch the 2024 Corvette, it comes with both exciting updates and an increase in price. Recent reports suggest that the C8 Corvette will be slightly more expensive for the upcoming model year. Additionally, an optional Corvette Museum Delivery feature promises an elevated ownership experience. In this blog, we'll dive into the details of these developments and what they mean for Corvette aficionados.
With each new model year, automakers strive to improve and refine their offerings, and the 2024 Corvette is no exception. While it retains the powerful mid-engine layout that has redefined its legacy, the latest iteration brings enhancements in performance, technology, and design. However, these improvements come with a slight increase in price, as reported by Road and Track.
The C8 Corvette has garnered widespread acclaim for its breathtaking performance and accessible price tag. As the bar is raised with each iteration, enthusiasts can expect even more power, precision, and innovation in the 2024 model. The allure of owning one of the most desirable sports cars on the market remains strong, despite the incremental price adjustment.
One of the most significant draws for Corvette enthusiasts is the exclusive Museum Delivery option. As reported by GM Authority, this experience allows buyers to personally collect their new Corvette at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky. While this service has been available in previous years, the 2024 model will see a substantial price increase for this unique and unforgettable experience.
For true Corvette enthusiasts, the Museum Delivery option is more than just a delivery process; it's an unforgettable journey. With this choice, buyers can witness the birthplace of their dream car, explore the rich history of the Corvette at the museum, and even enjoy a factory tour to witness the assembly process firsthand. Although the price increase may seem steep, the priceless memories and emotional connection to the Corvette brand make it a worthwhile investment for many.
Beyond the performance and design, the Corvette has forged a vibrant community of passionate owners. The Corvette Museum Delivery option fosters a sense of camaraderie among enthusiasts, providing a shared experience that binds them to the brand and to each other.
As we eagerly await the launch of the 2024 Corvette, the news of a slightly higher price tag and a substantial increase in the Corvette Museum Delivery option has sparked discussions among automotive enthusiasts. While some may express concern over the price bump, the allure of owning a Corvette, with its legendary performance and iconic design, remains undiminished. Moreover, for those seeking an unforgettable experience, the Museum Delivery option is an exceptional opportunity to be part of the Corvette legacy. Regardless of the price, the 2024 Corvette promises to deliver a driving experience like no other, solidifying its place as an American automotive icon.


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GM acquires gigacasting company in potential blow to Tesla
GM will leverage TEI tech to build Cadillac EVs as legacy OEMs look to catch up on gigacasting
Detroit legacy manufacturer GM has acquired Tooling and Equipment International (TEI), a Michigan-based metallurgical company which has pioneered Tesla’s gigacasting manufacturing.
GM now looks set to leverage the expertise of TEI to catalyse cost advantages on vehicle bodies from which Tesla has historically benefitted. And GM tells EV inFocus that the firm’s EVs are first in line to be manufactured using the technology.
TEI describes itself as “a global leader in the design, engineering and manufacturing of prototype, pre-production and mass production equipment for the casting industry”. “TEI will remain its own business entity with GM as its parent company,” GM says.
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But, even with this operational independence, it remains to seen if TEI will be able to continuing doing business with GM rival Tesla, or if the EV market leader may now have to look elsewhere to other casting companies with which it has previously worked to continue its own gigacasting operations.
“GM acquired TEI to bolster its portfolio of innovations and secure access to unique casting technology. Bringing TEI into the GM enterprise builds on decades of the company’s own casting experience and provides a competitive advantage with strategic castings for future low volume products like the Cadillac Celestiq,” GM tells EV inFocus.
The Celestiq is an upcoming large electric sedan expected to be available in 2024. But GM will not unlock the cost advantages available to Tesla through gigacasting until it can manufacture its high-volume EVs with the tech.
Gigacasting is a manufacturing process in which presses capable of up to 9,000 tons of pressure to mould vehicle bodies in a clamping movement. Consultancy S&P Global says “done correctly, gigacasting can theoretically slash per-unit manufacturing costs by eliminating the welding of dozens of body parts by casting one single module”.
It is therefore no great surprise that legacy OEMs are trying to get into the gigacasting game, especially since GM’s EVs need all the potential cost savings the company can generate. Fellow Detroit automaker Ford reportedly placed orders with Italian gigacasting firm Idra in October.
Idra has also signed a contract with Sweden’s Volvo Cars to install two 9,000-ton gigapress machines at the OEM’s site in Slovakia. “These state-of-the-art machines are set to revolutionise the automotive manufacturing industry and position the brand’s new plant in Kosice as a strategic hub for gigacasting,” Idra says.


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Ron DeSantis Signs Fairness in Women’s Sports Act
DeSantis’ office insisted the “designation of separate sex-specific athletic teams or sports is necessary to promote equality of athletic opportunities.”
Marco Rubio Wants to Know Why Amazon Pulled Book From Conservative Writer
U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., joined U.S. Sens. Mike Braun, R-Ind., Josh Hawley, R-Mo., and Mike Lee, R-Utah, is sending a letter to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos after the company removed the book “When Harry Became Sally: Responding to the Transgender Moment” by conservative scholar Ryan Anderson from the Amazon website, Kindle, and Audible platforms.
Greg Steube: Women Should Not Have to Compete Against Biological Males in Sports
Steube brought out an amendment to the “Equality Act” which would “ensure that nothing in the bill could be construed to require biological females to compete against biological males in sports.”


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Plastics Industry Body Encourages Role Players to Strive for Zero Pellet Loss
Submission Date : 2018-08-08
“Everybody has a role to play in helping us save the environment and natural resources”
Johannesburg,6 August 2018.The South African plastics industry has reiterated its commitment to keep South Africa’s water sources free of plastic pollution. Plastics|SA’s Executive Director, Anton Hanekom, said reducing the amount of plastics that make their way into streams, rivers and the ocean is one of the biggest focus areas for the plastics industry worldwide today.
Plastics|SA was one of the first signatories of The Declaration of the Global Plastics Associations for Solutions on Marine Litter, a global declaration and public commitment by the international plastics community, signed in March 2011, to address the issue of plastics in the marine environment. Operation Clean Sweep was developed as an important step towards implementing the core principles of this declaration.
“When we re-launched Operation Clean Sweep in South Africa as one of our product stewardship programmes last year, our call went out toevery segment of the plastics industry, including plastic producers, transporters, bulk terminal operators, recyclers and plastics processors, to implement good housekeeping practices. Every employee of every factory has a role to play if we are to achieve our goal of zero pellet, flake and powder loss. We need the commitment from every person in every company, from top management to shop floor employees, to help protect the environment and save valuable resources,” Hanekom says.
Pellet, flake and powder loss has many negative impacts on individual companies, on the plastics industry as a whole and on the environment. Slips and falls caused by pellet, flake or powder spills in factories are one of the causes of accidents in the plastics industry, resulting in lost work time, higher worker compensation costs and lower employee morale. Once spilled, they can end up in waterways and the ocean if they are casually swept into storm drains instead of properly cleaned up and discarded.
“All employees in every aspect of the industry must be educated on how to properly handle and dispose of plastic pellets with the goal of zero pellet loss. Every staff member has a role to play in eliminating plastic pellets, flake and powder loss. It’s the little things that count – a few pellets, flakes and powder here, a handful there. They all add up when you consider the thousands of facilities in the plastics industry and the frequency with which plastic pellets, flakes and powder are loaded and unloaded,” Hanekom stresses.
While consumers are responsible for the proper recycling and disposal of used consumer products and packaging, Plastics|SA agrees that the plastics industry is amongst others responsible for proper containment of plastic pellets, flakes and powder. The impacts of ingested marine debris can be significant and warrants efforts to prevent plastic materials from entering the environment.
“Eliminating pellet, flake and powder loss is not only good for the environment. It is also good for business performance. Whilst our ultimate goal is to help keep plastic pellets, flakes and powder out of the environment, these efforts can also help improve relations with stakeholder groups and community organizations that expect the industry to minimize its environmental footprint.
Companies can enhance their reputations as good stewards of the environment — an increasingly important factor for attracting the investment community and high-quality employees. By ensuring that raw materials are not wasted, businesses can improve their bottom line, increase efficiency and leave a lasting legacy for future generations by helping us turn the tide on marine litter,” Hanekom concludes.
For more information, visit www.plasticsinfo.co.za/opcleansweep


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Angel Rivera, the CEO of Vera Wear and creator of an emerging fashion empire, is a hard man to pin down. Between preparing for 2022’s The Vera Wear Project, his nationwide model search, and working with designers across the country to develop a brand that is already selling millions around the world, Angel is pretty busy these days. He agreed, however, to take a break from his packed schedule to talk about his plans for the model search and about how a guy from the Bronx created a fashion-entertainment brand whose clothing is described as the epitome of sexy-casual.
“2022 is going to be huge for Vera Wear,” Angel believes, settling back in his chair. His office is decorated with pictures of previous winners of The Vera Wear Project, including Colombian Daniela Giraldo and Venezuelan ROXYD. “We’re really excited about the competition because last year, we had thousands of women audition. We’re anticipating a record number of applicants this spring, and with the depth of talent across America, that means the next face of Vera Wear is going to be very special.”
Angel started the competition, he reveals, because he wanted to use the power of his company to help undiscovered talent break into a notoriously difficult industry. “It is tough to become a top model,” he confirms. “Yet, I have met so many women who have the looks, the intelligence, and the charisma to really light up the camera. All they need is a chance to show what they can do, and their world can really open up for them. That’s why I am so stoked about The Vera Project next year – it’s got the ability to open doors for the winner because of the incredible prizes we’re going to offer.”
As the competition’s Lead Judge, Angel will join his peers from across the fashion and entertainment industries to award the winner a cover on a magazine or publication. “They will also enjoy a contract with Vera Wear that will be worth up to $100K as well as their own cosmetics or perfume line,” he confirms. “It’s an incredible opportunity for any woman who is at least 18 years old and lives in America.”
Angel first started Vera Wear ten years ago when he had nothing more than a passion for fashion and a conviction that he could build a strong company. He shakes his head a little when he remembers the rocky start they had. “We had zero sales – none. As for social media, forget it. We had just as many followers. I believe in being positive, however, and I don’t give up easily, either. We pushed – and pushed – and we slowly but surely grew. We found our niche and cultivated our brand, and now we’re very respected in the fashion world.”
Key to the company’s growth has been an increase in its exposure to the public. “The dam broke a few years ago,” Angel reveals, “when I was interviewed for a high profile case, ‘Casey Anthony.’ From there, I did several interviews and then appeared on E! True Hollywood Story. That was wonderful publicity for me and for Vera Wear, and since then, I have continued to build my brand.”
Today, his dedication to his company and to fashion has led Angel to have more than 1M Twitter followers and 100K on Instagram. “The Instagram page for Vera Wear has more than 80K. I think it’s because people really resonate with our message that through fashion, all women are gorgeous.”
The Vera Wear Project, Angel believes, has the potential to be shown on a streaming project. “Fashion, whatever your particular style may be, is a universal interest, and people are very curious about who will be the next face of Vera Wear. There’s something a little romantic, don’t you think, about not knowing if the winner will come from Omaha, Anchorage, or a small town in Mississippi. It’s generating so much interest in the competition that I think it’s inevitable that it will get picked up.”
Will Angel be taking over the throne that Tyra Banks relinquished? “I hope so!” he laughs. “I want to be America’s Top Model Scout. It would be a ton of fun!”
For more information on how you can enter The Vera Wear Project on February 2, 2022, please follow @Angelluisr & @Verawear on Instagram for updates.


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Short sellers have been wrong on shares of Alibaba Group Holdings (BABA), up 27% this year.
But any shock to China’s economy could sink all ships. For data on Alibaba short selling this year from S3 Partners’ Blacklight, Read More>>
It was a down day for Argentina equities after Fitch Ratings said the country has much more work to do to boost its credit rating.
When Latin American internet retailer MercadoLibre (MELI) unveils its third quarter financial results on Nov. 3, you can be sure that analyst and investors will pay close attention to GMV.
The closely watched e-commerce industry metric will tell us how fast Latin America’s biggest online merchant is growing. Read More>>
Shares of Wal-Mart and the Beijing, China retailer slipped Thursday after rising in after-hours trading on the news. Read More>>
In a boon for Apple (AAPL) retail expansion plans, India on Monday said it would lift some foreign direct investing restrictions.
For three and possible five years, Apple will not have to manufacture or source at least 30% of its output in India.
Shares of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding (BABA)are rising a day after the stock plunged on news of a U.S. investigation into some of its accounting practices.
Evercore analysts looked at the treatment of Alibaba’s 47% ownership in Alibaba’s Cainiao Network logistics operation, and still think the stock has roughly 25% upside.
Shares of Chinese internet plays Alibaba Group (BABA), Tencent Holdings (TCEHY) and Baidu (BIDU) are higher in U.S. trading following a bullish report from Goldman Sachs. But the iShares MSCI China Large-Cap exchange-traded fund (FXI) was moving lower in U.S. trading this morning.
Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF) said it will add operations in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman with a partner.
The latest monthly data show Peru’s mining, retail and construction sectors are slowing, but the economy is still likely to expand by 3.7% this year. That’s one reason the iShares MSCI All Peru Capped exchange-traded fund (EPU), while down today, is up 21% this year.
The iShares MSCI Mexico Capped exchange-traded fund (EWW) rose 6.5% for the week, backed by a nearly 3% rise in the value of the Mexican peso against the U.S. dollar. Wal-Mart de Mexico (WMMVY and Walmex.Mexico) reported strong same store sales growth for February, a month that marked its best traffic in four years.
Emerging markets have been synonymous with growth, but the outlook for individual nations is constantly changing. Countries from Brazil and Russia to Turkey face challenges including infrastructure bottlenecks, credit issues and political shifts. The Barrons.com Emerging Markets Daily blog analyzes news, data and research out of emerging markets beyond Asia to help readers navigate the investment landscape.
Barron’s veteran Dimitra DeFotis has been blogging about emerging market investing since traveling to India and Turkey. Based in New York, she previously wrote for Barron’s about U.S. equity investing, including cover stories and roundtables on energy themes. Dimitra was among the first digital journalists at the Chicago Tribune and started her career as a police reporter at the Daily Herald in the Chicago suburbs. Dimitra holds degrees from the University of Illinois and Columbia University, where she was a Knight-Bagehot Fellow in the business and journalism schools.
Write to Dimitra at Dimitra.DeFotis@barrons.com


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Cloud Computing and the Promise of On-Demand Business Innovation
The wow isn't just about technology; it's about process flexibility and reuse that will enable enterprises to quickly serve new customers and launch new lines of business.
We are witnessing a seismic shift in information technology, the kind that comes around every decade or so, and it will have a huge impact on business -- especially in today's economy.
First things first: What the hell is Cloud Computing? Definitions and opinions of cloud computing abound. At one point Larry Ellison, CEO of Oracle, declared it to be "complete gibberish" and "insane."
Reasons the enterprise shouldn't adopt cloud computing abound: security, privacy, lack of cost savings, data governance, migration issues, and legal and regulatory issues. Pick your favorite.
Sure, consumer-level cloud computing is cool, but why should the enterprise be interested in this "insane" stuff, as Ellison called it? Whatever the definition or concern, cloud computing, still in its infancy, is game changing. Remember how the retail book industry was slow to grasp the "non-secure, unreliable, poorly-governed" Internet? Then along came Amazon. Expect the same phenomenon with cloud computing.
This article, which is adapted from the new book Dot Cloud: The 21st Century Business Platform, (Meghan-Kiffer Press , 2009), explains that the story of cloud computing isn't about technology; it's about enabling businesses to do things never before practical that will drive the enterprise to embrace cloud computing. The current economic crisis will accelerate the adoption as companies cope with unexpected change, do more with less and adapt their business models to the current realities.
Supply-side opportunities for cost savings made possible by cloud computing receive the majority of attention and focus. One reason for the cost focus is that expensive company data centers are often idle more than 90 percent of the time due to over provisioning to handle peaks. Private clouds can change all that, enabling companies to gain economies of scale while consolidating their data centers through virtualization.
But the implications of cloud computing go far, far beyond cost savings. As we will explore, business architecture is the central issue of enterprise cloud computing. No, there won't be a "big switch" where companies dump their data centers on a given Friday and move to data-center boarding houses (public clouds) in the sky the following Monday. The PC didn't eliminate the mainframe; the Internet didn't eliminate the PC. In fact, most large companies still maintain their back-office systems of record on mainframe computers behind the firewall; always have and probably always will. But it's those outward-facing front-office business activities that live on the Internet that must be woven into an overall business architecture. In short, Enterprise IT must extend out to Consumer IT, otherwise those companies simply won't be able to compete. As we'll explore, Web 2.0 has changed the landscape with social networks, and companies can ill afford to ignore the shift.
We welcome your comments on this topic on our social media channels, or [contact us directly] with questions about the site.